Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-05-26
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WORSE THAN IREEAKD.


Henry George . chen"hiN- =,
In the mean time our daily papers an
contain accounts OF an eviction ~ one 81
fhe PENNSYLVANIA coal estates. The 40.
counts OF some OF the other papers are more
full and graphic, but quote, by prefer
ence that OF the Tribune, since that paper
h A stauch advocate Of the system OF pro
lection TO American industry" which mas
placed the workingtnen OF pennsylvania ~
50 proud a position as compared with the
fpauper laborersn OF Europe; !,
WTLKEsBARRE, Pa, May I7.-Slnee April
18th the miners employed by ]: 3. Wentz q
Co.,, at their Hazel Brook collleries near
Hazleton have been on strike, and on SAT
urday the company began the forclDie
eviction OF the men IRON their homes, Inc
whole village and the land lying around
about for miles are owned by the company.
II will not sell or lease loot OF lanu 70
anyone nor allow man to build q house ior
himself. Il eompels every emplnye In the
mines to rent from IL, ct from % 10 50 per
month, The mon are forced to sign lenses
which place them absolutely ut the COM
nany's mercy. They expressly waive every
benefit or protection which they might have
under the laws OF the state. They agrt Q
| that the moment they cease 70 work Tor u Q
| company they must leave their homes, and
| can be elected on 10 days notice; and they
| further have to sign what Is termed m
| "amicable suit Of ejeetment," by which the
/ company can ut any moment issue witt
/ aud evict them.
Notices to quit we're sent round to the
| strikers some weeks ago. On Saturday
| Deputy Sheriff Brockway, armed with the
| wrfts Issued In ''ainicable suits Of eject
ment," and backed by body of coal and
| iron police In the pay OF the company, APP
peared In the village and began to eyict.
Six families with all their goods and chat
tells were thrown on the hillside; they were
the families OF Neal Gallagher, Daniel
Nigan, Patrick Bowen, Barney" Gallagher,
Joseph McMonigle and Patrick Dunlavey.
Everything the houses contained were
thrown pell-mell out OF doors and Win
dows, the women and children driven out,
and tho doors locked behind them.
Not only were they thus deprived ofhome
| and shelter, but not q soul In tho village
dare shelter them or their goods. The COM
pany had given notice that any tenant AZ
fording shelter to those evicted would be
himself dispossessed. Mrs. Dunlavey was
sick In bed when the officers entered the
house; but she had to go, and her bed was
put outside after her. 1t was with difficulty
that she obtained permission to stop orel
| night mt a neighbours, nor were tho evicted
tenants able 10 remove their goods, for the
company had prohibited any wagon from
entering Its lands for that purpose, and re-
fused 10 grant tho use OF its own toams
i Npnltn ftnu WHib tOihl'oiou "
hunt miles In search of n plnee to spenC
the night, and some, unable to Obtain
shelter, were forced to sleep on tho bar
ground without roof or shelter. Thel
goods arc lying to-day Just rs they wer'
thrown out, the people being unable t.
| move them.
The strike was tho result OF tho company
persistent attempt to break up the local dis
trict OF the knights OF Labor. Every maj
suspected OF belonging to It was discharges
Ibis placed filled by an ignorant Hunga
rian or Pole. EARLY In April three men wer
discharged for this reason. The minor
took mp their cause, and demanded thei
, Reinstatement. The company paid no at
tentlon to the demand and the men struck
They offered to arbitrate, but the compan
. refused TO consider anything but uncOndi
tlonal surrender. II hirod a number Of I'D
ditional Hungarlans and took out the Goa
cut by the minors before they struck
charging the laborers' time to the striker:
The company has large stores In tho villag
, and nil employees are forced to deal with
and 1t only. Not another store Ia Above
on the company's ground. and not trave
Ing merchant or peddler dares set foot o
! It's territory.